Every girl should have such a best friend. Caroline and I pretty much had a standing arrangement that if we weren't otherwise occupied, we hung out together. We took tennis lessons and drank tang. She taught me chess. We'd roll the innertubes down the half-block to the public dock, where we'd jump in the lake for hours at a time, all by ourselves.

It's too bad frat-boys and their ilk always assume there's some hot lesbian action going on. Having a best-gal-pal is the best thing in the world.

I'm feeling partial to the cropped version of this, but most seem to prefer this one. C'est la vie.

This hashtag is best appreciated in the original Spanish, because its delightful assonance is lost in translation. It means "The Pardon is an Insult."

Pardon? Who and why?

This story is a chance to change the subject for those of us who are still reeling from Lyin' Donnie Trump's recent interview with the NY Times where he spun one falsehood every 75 seconds.

South of the equator, in the past 10 days the president of Peru has unleashed true chaos upon that country's institutions. We have the Brazilian construction titan Oderbrecht to thank for it.

Oderbrecht is to Latin American corruption what stains are to the diagnosis of cancer. The company paid out almost $800 million in bribes to executives and governmental officials to secure contracts worth about $3.3 billion. When insiders began talking, their talk lit up nodes of corruption all over the map of Latin America.

In Peru, the former president and his wife are in jail awaiting trial on charges of Oderbrecht-related corruption. Another Peruvian ex-president, Alejandro Toledo, is on the lam after reports about his dodgy dealings with Oderbrecht surfaced.

Which brings us to PPK, as the current president, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, is known. More Anglo than Latino, PPK's CV sparkles with elite trophies: a public school in the UK, then Oxford for politics, philosophy and economics, followed by a masters in public affairs from Princeton. After that, PPK put his education to work at the World Bank, investment banking, and private-equity management.

Oh yes, and PPK also served several Peruvian presidents, most notably as Minister of Economy and Finance from July 2001 to July 2002, and again from February 2004 to August 2005. In August 2005, he was appointed as Prime Minister, a position he held until 2006.

Fast forward to 2016, when PPK was elected to the presidency of Peru by a margin of only 40,000 votes. He pulled off this upset by riding the wave of resentment towards Peru's last dictator, Alberto Fujimori, personified by his daughter Keiko. Though PPK defeated Keiko, the fujimoristas controlled the legislature and have played the same sort of obstructionist role as the Republicans in the US Congress under President Obama.

But back to the Oderbrecht, scandal, where the Peruvian public was surprised and horrified to learn that PPK, he of the sterling CV, was the owner of two firms that did business with Oderbrecht while PPK was serving in government. This came as a shock because PPK had denied any involvement with the Oderbrecht octopus.

That was all it took for the fujimoristas to haul PPK before the legislature on charges he was morally unfit to serve as president. In the US, major political scandals tend to unfold at a glacial pace, The same cannot be said for Peru. Before you knew it, PPK was fighting for his political life in front of a session of Peru's congress. The trial and the vote all took place on the same day.

Amazingly, PPK survived thanks to a split in the ranks of the fujimoristas. While Alberto Fujimori's daughter Keiko wanted PPK gone, her brother Kenji struck a back-room deal with PPK whereby he and a handful of his supporters would not vote for impeachment in exchange for PPK's pardoning Alberto, who was serving a 25-year term in jail.

According to Wikipedia, "Fujimori was specifically found guilty of murder, bodily harm, and two cases of kidnapping. In July 2009 Fujimori was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for embezzlement after he admitted to giving $15 million from the Peruvian treasury to his intelligence service chief, Vladimiro Montesinos. Two months later he pled guilty in a fourth trial to bribery and received an additional six-year term."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberto_Fujimori

The fallout from the pardon was immediate and harsh and, so far, incessant. To call it a backlash is an understatement. The leftist candidate for president, who supported PPK in his 2016 campaign because of her hatred of Keiko, has denounced PPK and declared that, as far as she is concerned PPK is not Peru's president.

Several cabinet ministers have resigned and further resignations are rumored. Members of the Justice Department have resigned on the grounds that Alberto was not eligible for a pardon in the first place. A group of at least 230 writers, including the writer and Nobel Literature Mario Vargas Llosa, have published a letter criticizing PPK for pardoning Alberto Fujimori.

That brings us to this photo, which was taken at a recent march in protest of Fujimori's pardon.

And there was I, thinking that PPK would be a new, different and better sort of president in a country where presidents always leave office with abysmal approval ratings

I can't predict where this is going to end, particularly since PPK has testified again since his impeachment about his dealings with Oderbrecht while he was minister.

So remember, if you can't stand seeing Trump on TV and are tired of hearing the "experts" babble on about Russian this and Russian that, tune in to El Comercio to for an installment of the PPK show!

Flightless Cormorant with a Sally Lightfoot Crab

Galapagos Islands

Click on the BLOG! for more of their fun session!

I swirled Worn Lipstick (pink), Spiced Marmalade (orange), and Broken China (blue) Distress Ink onto coated paper to form the watercolor-like background. Then I stamped the Heart Flourish design over top and heat embossed with white embossing powder. The focal piece is raised on foam for dimension.

Thanks for looking! :-)

For design details for each layer, please visit:

elizabethallan-blog.blogspot.com/2012/09/best-witches.html

Thank you for viewing!

Best Large-

Standing on the Precipice (JHWatkins)

Standing on the precipice-

balanced at junctions,

space and time-

there are no excuses here

no explanations or rhymes.

Locked in lavish rhythm

far beyond the brink-

hid from help or rescue-

on jagged edge distinct.

Weighty voices-

tomorrows bearing-

form forces by the day...

Wound tight

in folds of failure-

by faltering historic foray.

Naked standing truth-

whirl winded and filleted-

open now -

body bleeding-

clean by choice-

ruthless rights parlayed.

Ring round the

restless righteous-

tormented tongues

twisted and advanced.

Weapons trained-

fitting filled-

hopelessness entranced.

New toys

for large little boys-

clicking clocks

in finest fashion.

Positioned perspective-

poisoned possessive power-

from places unimagined.

Whining women-

worn-out white wheezers-

talking days on end-

endless hours

of wasted words-

useless air-

precious spent.

Children torn

apart at seams-

families drugged

and drenched...

Callous toned

nightmares

running wild-

seeds scattered

in the wind.

Lost by generation's

darkened doubt-

aflame

the fearless world-

tossed aside by

hellish schemes-

now rampant-

flags unfurled.

Gone the green

and yearning years-

foundations

fairly laid-

of priceless pearl

in wisdom grown,

crown jewelry

on parade.

But new

the turning earth begins-

choice

once again delayed.

Come cold and calm

courageous men-

run boldly

to your fate.

And stand in

earnest errand bare,

an era

at the end-

now bind yourselves

betrothed and braced-

to finish

without fear. (James watkins 2004)

I posted this because I loved my eyes! We were on our way to a friend's house laying on the bed of her friend Matthew's truck!

Adele is visiting her lovely friend Natalia in the very southernmost tip of Italy. Adele and Natalia took their first steps on the world's catwalks together and enjoyed all the partying and high jinks that young models get up to. Then things changed dramatically for Natalia at Milan Fashion Week when a very handsome young Italian man asked to buy her a drink at the Valli after-party. The whirlwind romance that followed led to Natalia leaving the fast-paced life of the catwalk for a Villa (well more of a palace really...) in the deep South. She now visits the world's fashion shows as a very valued client and always tries to keep up with her friends from the 'old days'

Cherry Grove Beach, South Carolina

200mm x 200mm

mixed media on wood

box mounted frame

Oh the joy of hanging out with your best friend.

Well, the year is winding to a close and it is nearly impossible to not look back and reflect on where you have been. So, I did. And the truth is, I was in a lot of places, and thankfully had my camera with me! Lots of folks pick their top 10 for the year, or most viewed, or something along those lines, so I chose some that were my personal favorites. I had to cut a few out just to get them to fit the way I wanted, but these were at the top of my list for a variety of reasons. If you review these for a moment, I think you will notice some patterns. These are all HDR, include water, are very colorful and were taken at sunset, sunrise, or blue hour. I guess if you could sum up my favorite things about photography, that would be the list. I’m a simple guy at heart! Anyways, thanks for the visits, comments, suggestions, and support. It has been a great year and I really appreciate it.

From the blog at: www.nomadicpursuits.com/blog/

Unedited shot of my bike, the fabulous Lord Bikenheimer, reflected in a puddle in Amsterdam. Taken with my Sony HX1. No editing, no magic tricks, no Photoshop :)

A man needs a good bike, and I happen to have the best bike in the world, the fabulous Lord Bikenheimer, a gender-confused lady bike that thinks that she's a dude, and not just any dude, but a Lord...I've tried reasoning with her, but she wouldn't accept the facts and refused to face reality, so we agreed that she gets to keep the title and can spend her days thinking that she's a manly bike. I mean, hey, this is Amsterdam, so who am I to tell a bike how to behave or to which gender group it belongs, this is still Sin city where many confusing, upsetting, interesting things happen each and every day, hahaha ;-D

I hope you're having a wicked weekend, I am very busy working on a better future and I barely have time to eat or sleep, but that's just what I expected when I started the 'AmsterSam World Domination Plan', probably not my best idea ever, lol ;-P

Amsterdam photos

Wicked reflections

www.amstersam.com

Nog op te breken Stationsstraat ten behoeve van de bouw van de spoortunnel.

On this spot the railwaytunnel from Best will be constructed.

Best shoes :) bought in Segovia, Spain on sudden buying spree, on sale, pristine white, couldn't resist them.

Best Buy, Newington, CT. 7/2014 Pics by Mike Mozart of TheToyChannel and JeepersMedia on YouTube.

Credit : @oreo_the_jersey_bean (instagram)

Day 1 ➡️ Today #doubletrouble #sisters #siblings #cute #dogsofinstgram #doubleact #sisterhood.

Best on black

www.fluidr.com/photos/8404101/interesting

Badly damaged photo, but a sweet testament to friendship- or maybe sisterhood.

Hoping that "Truman" was an old sick pet, and not a person! This is an unsent, divided postcard with a plain square for a one cent stamp. Found in Pittsford, Vermont.

.

Written on the back:

Everett!

Truman died this afternoon at four o'clock.

I was very glad to hear that you had a position and hope you will be successful.

Clara

And addressed to:

Mr. J.Everett Holmes

Poultney, VT

c/o Griffith V. Nathaniel

U can see dude inside

Quick things in fun places...

This is probably one of my favorite shots of the bunch. The waves looked amazing because of the high speed wind, and of course the girls look great too :)

A lovely dog poses for my album! :]

Pedion Areos Park, Athens

*Yashica Mat-124G

*Kodak Portra 400 (120 film)

Tue and his best friend watcing tv

Just to share some of my best pics of 2010

August 2010 - 18

Make it a beautiful white Christmas with our fine faux Jingle Jollys Snowy Christmas Tree to spruce up the occasion. Visit Us: www.hr-sports.com.au/seasonal-holiday-decorations/christm...

Puerto Madero

Best Joined Up freestyle last night at AKA/The End in Holborn... its all cocks and bumholes...

Nothing like posting my favorite shots at the very last-minute!!!

Phase One IQ3-100 ISO 50 f11 1/25 Rodenstock 32mm f4 HR Digaron-W

Phase One IQ3-100 ISO 50 f10 1/40 Rodenstock 32mm f4 HR Digaron-W

Phase One IQ3-100 ISO 800 f5.6 1/500 Schneider 55mm LS f2.8

Phase One IQ3-100 ISO 50 f8 1/250...

www.gagecaudell.com/best-of-2017/

Afin de mettre en avant certaines photos, et en préparation d'une prochaine exposition, je réorganise ma galerie,

Une sélection du meilleur 2015 avec mise à jour du traitement en grand format

DSC02349 pont neuf, Paris

nissa sent me a package full of a million boxes of banania, some precious italian soy milk, maxi plaisure, marzipan chocolate, a tonne of licorice AND GIRDLE with SOCK SUSPENDERS!!!

nissa is going to get a retaliation gift box that will make her projectile cry.

the best ever.

thanks buddy.

also wearing

thriftered scalloped detail minidress

tabio tights

dieppa restrepo shoes

Ruckholt Road, Leyton

best friends

Ít thôi nhưng chân thành với nhau là đủ !

imissyouuuuuuuu

This is my best friend, Indie.

“You see, always, they’re there for you… When I wake they are there, all the day they are there, at night there are there … better than people that is … better than people.”

Florence Sunset